Best colleges for Parks in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
North Carolina State University at Raleigh, University of North Carolina Wilmington and Western Carolina University are the top bachelor's Parks programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,116, College Scorecard. Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University at Raleigh and Western Carolina University award the most Parks degrees in North Carolina: 71, 66 and 33 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 North Carolina colleges offer Parks and award 279 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management program prepares students for careers in managing parks, recreational facilities, and leisure services. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about outdoor activities,…
Top 6 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,116 | 66 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,873 | 32 | 71% | — | $23,000 |
| 3 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,485 | 33 | 60% | — | $22,252 |
| 4 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,646 | 71 | 75% | — | $19,706 |
| 5 | Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte Charlotte Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,963 | 11 | 49% | $29,446 | $27,000 |
| 6 | North Carolina Central University Durham Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,863 | 16 | 42% | — | $31,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Parks degrees in North Carolina
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 71 | $29,646 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 66 | $38,116 |
| 3 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public | 33 | $30,485 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 32 | $31,873 |
| 5 | Belmont Abbey College Belmont Private not-for-profit | 16 | Not reported |
| 6 | North Carolina Central University Durham Public | 16 | $28,863 |
| 7 | Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte Charlotte Private not-for-profit | 11 | $30,963 |
| 8 | Lees-McRae College Banner Elk Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 10 | Chowan University Murfreesboro Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 3 North Carolina colleges offering Parks
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 3 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Facilities Managers (SOC 11-3013).
Top skills
What Facilities Managers earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Parks programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Parks degrees?+
Appalachian State University (71 graduates a year), North Carolina State University at Raleigh (66 graduates a year) and Western Carolina University (33 graduates a year) award the most Parks degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 North Carolina colleges offer Parks.
What is the best college for Parks in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads among bachelor's Parks programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,116, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina Wilmington and Western Carolina University follow. By degrees awarded, Appalachian State University is the largest, with 71 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Parks program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, North Carolina State University at Raleigh tops the list at $38,116. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Facilities Managers earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Facilities Managers in North Carolina is $115,410 (median $108,130), across about 4,810 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Parks program?+
The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management program prepares students for careers in managing parks, recreational facilities, and leisure services. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about outdoor activities,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Facilities Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +3.8% growth with around 13,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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